The Chairman went silent, his expression becoming unreadable.

He knew exactly what kind of danger Alaric and Lyandra Valcor were facing right now.

After a long moment, he spoke.

"It’s nothing too serious, really. One of the major portals had some entrance malfunctions, and because of that blockade, the people inside haven’t been able to come out."

His tone stayed conversational, almost dismissive.

"Your parents are in that portal as well, along with many other high-ranking military personnel. But don’t worry about it too much... They should be safe."

Luna’s eyes tracked every micro-expression on his face, every slight tension in his shoulders.

Her Emotional Spectrum skill showed her the truth beneath his calm exterior.

He was lying about the last part.

’They aren’t safe...’

Thump

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

’They’re trapped in a dangerous portal...’

Thump Thump Thump

’And... Damian went to the Northern Region... He probably knows something from his past life memories about what’s happening, about how to help them.’

Her breathing quickened, thoughts spiraling.

’Is he going to try entering a portal himself? Is he going to throw himself into danger to save them?’

The magnification side effect of her skills kicked in hard, multiplying the panic until it threatened to drown her.

’He’s just a B+ rank... What if he gets himself killed? What if I lose him too? What if I lose all of them and I’m left completely alone?’

Her hands came up to cover her face, fingers pressing against her eyes.

’Stop! Fight the side-effects Luna! Breathe!’

She forced air into her lungs, held it despite the way her chest wanted to hyperventilate.

Released it slowly through her fingers.

’Worrying won’t change anything... Panicking won’t help Mom, Dad, or Damian.’

Another breath, steadier this time.

’There’s only one thing I can do...’

She lowered her hands, her silver eyes opening with new clarity.

Her face set with determination that hadn’t been there before, jaw firm and expression hardening.

Thud

She dropped to one knee in front of the Chairman as she looked up at his face.

"Please take me as your disciple."

The words came out clear and steady, carrying weight.

’The Chairman’s strong enough to erase a Light Bearer from existence with a wave of his hand. And his skills are strong...’

Her hands clenched on her knee.

’If I can learn from him, if I can get stronger faster, maybe I can actually help instead of just standing here worrying.’

"..."

The night sounds faded, crickets going quiet as if the world itself was holding its breath.

The Chairman’s expression shifted completely, the casual warmth vanishing.

His face became serious, almost grave, as he looked down at Luna kneeling before him.

He shook his head slowly.

"Master-disciple bonds are very serious in our world, young lady. It’s not a joking matter or something to be entered into lightly."

His voice carried weight that hadn’t been there before.

"I have never taken any disciples in all my years... I’m just not cut out for teaching or shaping someone else’s path."

But Luna didn’t move, her knee still pressed against the cold terrace floor.

The Chairman’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Your grandfather is the Vice Director of the Military Police, one of the strongest awakeners in the Federation." His tone became almost persuasive. "You can just ask him to take you as his disciple. He’d probably be overjoyed to train his granddaughter personally."

Luna’s jaw tightened, her hands clenching on her thigh.

’The grandfather who never showed his face to us? The one who didn’t even acknowledge Damian’s existence? Why would I want someone like that as my teacher?’

Her silver eyes remained locked on the Chairman’s face.

The Chairman stared down at Luna as hs eyes tracked her stubborn posture, the determination in her silver eyes.

’What should I do?... Taking disciples creates obligations, responsibilities and expectations I’ve avoided for decades.’

He opened his mouth to refuse again.

But a voice emerged from his wrist communicator, cutting him off before he could speak.

"Chairman."

Gia’s synthesized tone carried its usual neutrality.

The Chairman’s eye twitched.

"...You’ve been eavesdropping."

"Correction: I maintain surveillance protocols for security purposes. What Luna Valcor just requested falls within parameters requiring my input."

His jaw clenched.

"Gia, I’m not taking disciples. We’ve been through this before when–"

"I suggest you look at your watch for one minute before making that decision."

The interruption was smooth and absolute.

"Trust me on this, Chairman."

The Chairman lifted his wrist, his expression skeptical.

The watch screen lit up, data streaming across its surface in patterns only he could see.

His eyes tracked the information, pupils moving rapidly as he absorbed whatever Gia was showing him.

Ten seconds passed... twenty... thirty.

His expression shifted, eyebrows rising slightly.

Forty seconds.

His lips pressed into a thin line.

Fifty seconds.

He let out a long breath through his nose.

The full minute elapsed and the screen went dark.

He let out a long sigh, the sound carrying resignation.

"You really are too biased when it comes to that kid."

His eyes found Luna’s face again, studying her with new consideration.

"Fine... I’ll accept you as my disciple."

’What did Gia show him?’

Luna’s eyes went wide, her posture straightening.

"On certain conditions." His voice cut through her excitement. "You follow my training methods exactly, no complaints about difficulty or fairness... And you don’t tell anyone who your teacher is without my permission."

"Understood."

He paused and looked at his communicator.

"Also Gia, you now owe me a favor. A significant one, to be called in whenever I deem necessary."

Gia’s voice emerged from the communicator again, carrying something that almost sounded like amusement.

"Correction, Chairman. It is Damian Valcor who owes you the favor, not myself. I merely provided relevant data for your decision-making process."

The Chairman’s eye twitched again.

"You manipulated the entire situation to get this outcome. That counts as owing me."

"Negative... I simply presented facts. The decision was yours alone."

Her voice began fading, presence withdrawing from the communicator.

"Welcome to your new role as instructor, Chairman. I’m certain you’ll be excellent at it."

The connection cut completely.

The Chairman stood there for a moment, staring at his wrist like he could strangle the AI through the device.

Then he looked back at Luna, who was still kneeling and watching him.

’This girl...’

"Stand up now... Will you?"

"Yes, teacher."

Luna rose quickly, her movements controlled.

The Chairman’s expression remained serious as he studied his new disciple.

"I’ll come by to teach you from time to time, or take you for training whenever I have time available. My schedule is unpredictable, so be ready when I call for you."

Luna nodded.

"I understand."

Then the Chairman turned around as his figure disappeared, leaving Luna alone under the moonlight.

"..."

She stood there for several long moments, her hand still clutching the Light Bearer token.

Her other hand moved to her pocket, feeling the crumpled note from Damian.

’You chase power like it’s the only thing that matters...’

Her fingers tightened on both objects.

’I never understood it before... Never saw the point of throwing yourself into danger, of pushing past every limit, of burning everything else away to get stronger.’

The token pulsed with warmth against her palm.

’But I get it now.’

Her silver eyes lifted to the moon, cold and distant and offering no answers.

’Power means having a choice.... Power means being able to protect what matters... Power means never having to stand helpless while the people you love disappear into danger.’

Something shifted inside her chest, a hunger she’d never felt before waking and spreading through her veins like fire.

’I want it! I want it all!’

****

In that moment, something fundamental shifted in the fabric of reality.

Across the world, in hidden sanctuaries and secret chambers, every seer capable of glimpsing future threads felt it simultaneously.

Their visions fractured.

Timelines that had been clear moments ago dissolved into chaos, branching into infinite possibilities that refused to stabilize.

The future, which had been flowing toward certain outcomes, suddenly became unpredictable.

A new variable had entered the equation.

A girl who’d just decided to chase power with the same hunger that had shaped all her loved ones.

And somewhere in the Northern Military Training Center, Damian lay in a medical facility, completely unaware that Luna had just taken the first step down a path that would reshape everything.